Mt. Lukens via Stone Canyon
Location: California, Los Angeles area, San Gabriels
Nice, less-frequented hike offering beautiful views and sufficient elevation gain for good conditioning.
⊗ Silver on the Side Canyon
Location: California, Los Angeles area, San Gabriels
Canyoning through a historic area with multiple waterfalls and a few ruins
Palos Verdes Diving
Location: California, Los Angeles area, Palos Verdes Peninsula
Dive the recently recovered kelp beds off the Palos Verdes coast.
Avalon Wreck Dive
Location: California, Los Angeles area, Palos Verdes Peninsula
Nice wreck of a late 19th century steamer with some interesting visible machinery remnants.
The Huntington
Location: California, Los Angeles area, Pasadena
Historic large estate with numerous excellent gardens, an art collection, and library housing rare books and manuscripts
Millard Canyon/Dawn Mine Loop ♦
Location: California, Los Angeles area, San Gabriels
Hike to a great abandoned mine at the end of a non-technical canyon which includes a nice waterfall
Mt. Lowe Railway
Location: California, Los Angeles area, San Gabriels
Hike the route of the historic Mt. Lowe railway, exploring the ruins of the two major stops along the route
⊗ Rubio Canyon
Location: California, Los Angeles area, San Gabriels
Canyoning through a historic area with multiple waterfalls and a few ruins
⊗ Bailey Canyon
Location: California, Los Angeles area, San Gabriels
Technical canyon with a straightforward approach and multiple rappels
⊗ Little Santa Anita Canyon
Location: California, Los Angeles area, San Gabriels
Nice beginner canyon with a straightforward approach, lots of rappels, and an occasional keeper pothole; optional extension on the approach through a historic area with a few ruins
⊗ Eaton Canyon (Technical) ♦
Location: California, Los Angeles, San Gabriels
One of the best technical canyons in the area – like a descent of a technical waterpark with numerous slides and jumps and fun raps
Eaton Canyon (Hike)
Location: California, Los Angeles area, San Gabriels
Heavily trafficked hike with multiple small river crossings to a nice waterfall
⊗ Allison Mine Loop
Location: California, Los Angeles area, San Gabriels
Hike to a great set of abandoned mines and descend via a canyon; overnight option allows additional rappels and more time to explore the mines
Malibu Creek State Park ♦
Location: California, Los Angeles area, Santa Monica Mountains
State Park where Planet of the Apes and MASH were filmed; offers nice hikes and various fun climbing spots
Echo Cliffs
Location: California, Los Angeles area, Santa Monica Mountains
Relatively quick approach to some excellent climbing, with climbs appropriate for all levels (beginner to expert)
Hueco Wall
Location: California area, Los Angeles, Santa Monica Mountains
Nice approach hike to a less frequented climbing area with intermediate to advanced climbs
Point Dume
Location: California, Los Angeles area, Santa Monica Mountains
Popular beginner climbing area on a coastal cliff
Paradise Falls
Location: California, Los Angeles area, Thousand Oaks
Nice hike with three distinct destinations: a peak, a waterfall, and a small cave
Crystal Cove State Park
Location: California, Los Angeles area, Laguna Beach
State Park with hiking and a historic seaside colony with cottages from the 1930’s
Wayfarers Chapel
Location: California, Los Angeles area, Palos Verdes Peninsula
Lovely chapel designed by Lloyd Wright in a picturesque setting
Santa Rosa Plateau
Location: California, Los Angeles Area, Temecula
Large preserve with woodlands, wetlands, prairie, and vernal pools
Walker Canyon
Location: California, Los Angeles area, Lake Elsinore
Attractive canyon that’s absolutely covered with California poppies in the spring
La Brea Tar Pits
Location: California, Los Angeles
Famous ice age fossil site with ongoing excavations and a museum